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American Car Spotter's Bible 1940-1980
Tad Burness
- List Price: $29.99
- Our Price: $19.79
- You save: $10.20 (34 %)
- Used Price: $16.67
- Publisher: Krause Publications
- Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
- Avg. Customer Rating: 4 Stars

Product Details
Product Description: Spotting the best American-made cars is easy with this one-of-a-kind color guide! A follow-up to the Ultimate Car Spotter's Guide, the American Car Spotter's Bible 1940-1980 features vehicles from 250 different U.S. manufacturers in a familiar style, coupled with 8,000+ color illustrations.
Restorers and collectors searching for a specific make of car or a new project will appreciate the side, rear and interior views of each model. In addition to detailed illustrations, a quick glance gives car enthusiasts various technical specifications including weight, length, horsepower, distinguishing features and factory price. This indispensable reference gives collectors technical details they'll refer to again and again.
-Includes 8,000+ color photos and illustrations
-Features American-made cars of 1940 through 1980
-Unique format offers easy identification
- Paperback: 792 pages
- Publisher: Krause Publications
- ISBN: 0896891798
- Dimensions: 10.87 x 8.27 x 1.26 inches
- Weight: 4.98 pounds
- View the complete item listing at Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
- Great Book
- Avg. Customer Rating: 4 Stars
- Overall this is a great book; there are thousands of color illustrations and pictures of American vehicles. There are several things to note that keep me from giving it five stars:
There are some strange omissions like the Chevy II/Chevy Nova from 1961-1972--where is it? The 1962 Chevy II convertible was my parents first car, but it is MIA. There are no Plymouth models from 1979 and there are only two cars shown for the years 1977-1978. Many times one end of the car is shown, but nothing of the other end, like in the case of the 1969 Cadillac.
As one man said, some things are hard to find because there doesn't seem to be any consistency on a car's location. Ford Torinos, Comets, Mavericks, Granadas, and Fairmonts all have their place in the Ford section of the book. Mustangs, however, are with the "m's" and Thunderbirds are witht the "t's". Pontiac Firebirds aren't with Pontiac, but between Ford Falcons and Ford full size cars.
The author is also not consistent in presenting the changes for some years. The '77-'79 Lincolns are listed together as if they are all identical, but the 1977 Lincolns had fender skirts and the '78-'79 did not. There are entire pages for each of the '63-'65 Chryslers, and then '66-'69 are all crammed on one page. This kind of thing happens many times and is fairly disappointing.
Finally, there are strange markings on many of the illustrations: door lines are drawn in, wheels are colored in, etc. A lot of the illustrations are cut up, which is sometimes confusing and disappointing, but they can help to draw attention to differences between models.
Still, it is worth the price and has plenty of pictures to look at. - Just What It Says It Is!
- Avg. Customer Rating: 5 Stars
- The American Car Spotter's Bible.
It's purpose is to help you identify a car, therefore it is full of pictures for you to look at. It is not intended to provide history on these cars (which it does a little bit anyway).
I had one of the original black and white copies of this book but I had given it away so I started looking for a replacement. This book was not yet back in print at the time. Used book dealers on the web were asking upwards of $100 for those originals because so many people still wanted them. Luckily this color edition came out in the nick of time and I picked it up right away.
Just what I wanted! - If You Like Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!
- RAvg. Customer Rating: 1 Star
- Well I thought I would get something worthwhile with this book? But if I want pictures I would go look at family albums. No info on the cars thats worth a dag. I am glad I used my free credit to get it because it is only worth $0. Now I guess if I can find one up to date like the Old Cars publications did for the 1946-1975 by Krause publications then it will be worth the bucks.
Duke in NC age 61 - Best book of its kind available
- Avg. Customer Rating: 5 Stars
- This is a very helpful resource tool for American cars from 1940-80. All the subtle differences are shown and noted. Especially helpful for those cars in the years just following WWII. It is wonderful to have all the illustrations in color. The book has been arranged alphabetically by car and chronologically for each. This book is a definite must have for everyone who has the 30's thru 70's decade car books. A really nice touch to go with all the great color illustrations is the price and production feature for each car.
- The complete spotters guide..
- Avg. Customer Rating: 4 Stars
- ..at last, and also full color illustrations. Very good value for money.

